Hardy Begonia
Begonia grandis evansiana

Family: Begoniaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Pink, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Spreading or horizontal.

Begonia grandis evansiana is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Shady slopes or wet places. In moist rocky wall of valley, in dense forests of valley by streams as wall as on rocks by streams or under shrubberies of valley; 100 - 1100 metres.

E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas(Malaya).

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The tuberous roots and fruits are anodyne, antiphlogistic and antispasmodic. Stimulates blood circulation. A decoction is used in the treatment of traumatic pain, haematemesis, gonorrhoea, post-partum vaginal discharge, amenorrhoea and snakebites.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antiphlogistic: Reduces inflammation.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Other

Rating:

This species can be grown as a ground cover in a sunny position sheltered by shrubs. The plants form spreading clumps.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Foundation, Massing, Specimen, Woodland garden. Requires a well-drained soil. Does not require high light intensities, succeeding in full sun or partial shade. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -5°c, and can be grown outdoors in the milder areas of the country if given the shelter of a wall. This same report gives the plant a hardiness zone rating of 6 (tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c). Grows well outdoors in Cornwall amongst trees and shrubs. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Fragrant flowers.

Propagating it: Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse and keep the compost moist in a light position. The seed can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking a year or more. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division. Basal cuttings from tubers in spring. Bulblets, formed in the leaf axils. Harvest in the autumn and store overwinter in a cool frost-free place, plant out in spring.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

B. evansiana. Andr.